Chemical composition

The main chemical components are carvacrol, thymol, p-cymene, cis-ocimene, caryophyllene and linalool.

Spanish oregano is also known as Thymus capitans, Coridothymus capitatus, Satureja capitata, Israeli oreganum, Cretan thyme or thyme of the ancients.

Oil properties

Oregano oil has a powerful, spicy, camphor-like aroma, is pale yellow in color and medium to watery in viscosity.

Origin of Oregano oil

Oregano is a hardy, bushy perennial herb that grows up to 90cm (35 in) high, with an erect hairy stem, dark green oval leaves and a profusion of pink flowers clustered in heads at the top of the branches.

It is a common garden plant, favored by bees, with a strong aroma when the leaves are bruised.

Oregano is a herb with an ancient medical reputation, now-a-days it is used extensively in Mediterranean cooking and dental preparations.

Precautions

Oregano oil from Origanum vulgare, as well as oil extracted from Thymus capitatus (Spanish oregano), is a dermal toxin, skin irritant and mucus membrane irritant and should not be used in aromatherapy and should also be avoided in pregnancy.